Image processing apparatus and control method thereof for selecting and displaying related image content of primary image content

ABSTRACT

There is provided an image processing apparatus which comprises a receiver which receives primary image content; a communicator which communicates with at least one supply source which supplies related image content of the primary image content; a signal processor which processes and outputs the primary image content; and a controller which controls the communicator to request the supply source to supply the related image content, and controls the signal processor to process and play the related image content supplied from the supply source in response to the request if a user selects a key to play the related image content of the primary image content while the primary image content received by the receiver is processed by the signal processor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/934,185, filed on Nov. 2, 2007, with a Issue Date of Dec. 11, 2012,and a U.S. Pat. No. 8,332,778, which claims priority from Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2007-0069796, filed on Jul. 11, 2007 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate toan image processing apparatus and a control method thereof, and moreparticularly, to an image processing apparatus which processes anddisplays received image content, and a control method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, an image processing apparatus displays an image signalsupplied from an external device such as a DVD, or processes anddisplays image content supplied from a broadcasting station.Particularly, terrestrial broadcasting stations, cable broadcastingstations and regional broadcasting stations provide image content inreal-time according to broadcasting time schedules.

If a user selects a channel, the image processing apparatus tunes to afrequency band corresponding to the selected channel, and may receiveimage content from a broadcasting station.

If a user desires to view particular image content, he or she may checkinformation on broadcasting time and channel of the image content andchange to the corresponding channel to view the image content at thebroadcasting time.

However, as the broadcasting station supplies the image content inreal-time, the user would have to record the image content to view itafter the broadcasting time of the image content elapses, which isinconvenient to the user.

Broadcasting stations now provide a video on demand (VOD) service whichstores previously-broadcasted image content in a predetermined serverand transmits requested image content among the stored image content ifa user requests the image content.

However, the user would have to connect to the broadcasting stationserver to receive the image content through the VOD service, and searchfor the desired image content from the multiple stored image content.Several user manipulations are required to search for a requested imagecontent, and accordingly, the time necessary to search for the imagecontent is great.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention overcome the abovedisadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, thepresent invention is not required to overcome the disadvantagesdescribed above, and an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionmay not overcome any of the problems described above.

The present invention provides an image processing apparatus whichsearches for and selects previously-broadcasted image content withoutdifficulty, and a control method thereof.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is providedan image processing apparatus which is easily manipulated to select andview related image content of currently-viewed primary image content andimproves user convenience, and a control method thereof.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan image processing apparatus which stores primary image content to becontinuously viewed after related image content are viewed if therelated image content of displayed primary image content are selected.

Additional aspects of the present invention will be set forth in part inthe description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the present invention.

The foregoing aspects of the present invention can be achieved byproviding an image processing apparatus, which comprises: a receiverwhich receives primary image content; a communicator which communicateswith at least one supply source which supplies related image content ofthe primary image content; a signal processor which processes andoutputs the primary image content; and a controller which controls thecommunicator to request the supply source to supply the related imagecontent, and controls the signal processor to process and play therelated image content supplied from the supply source in response to therequest if a user selects to play the related image content of theprimary image content while the primary image content received by thereceiver is processed by the signal processor.

The controller may request the supply source to transmit the relatedimage content relating to at least one of a title, contents and a genreof the primary image content, based on additional information includedin the primary image content.

The image processing apparatus may further include a user input unitwhich is provided to select a key to play the related image content, andthe controller may request the supply source to transmit the relatedimage content if the key to play the related image content is selectedthrough the user input unit.

The image processing apparatus may further include a user interface (UI)generator, wherein the controller may request the supply source totransmit a list of the related image content, control the UI generatorto generate a UI based on the list of the related image content suppliedfrom the supply source, and request the supply source to transmit therelated image content selected through the user input unit if the key toplay the related image content is selected through the user input unit.

The image processing apparatus may further include a storage unit,wherein the controller may store the primary image content processed bythe signal processor in the storage unit if the related image content isplayed.

The controller may control the signal processor to process the primaryimage content stored in the storage unit if the play of the relatedimage content is finished.

The image processing apparatus may further include a storage unit,wherein the controller may store the primary image content processed bythe signal processor in the storage unit if the related image content isplayed.

The controller may control the signal processor to process the primaryimage content stored in the storage unit if the play of the relatedimage content is finished.

The image processing apparatus may further include a display unit.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention can be alsoachieved by providing an image processing apparatus, comprising: acommunicator which receives primary image content from at least onesupply source which supplies primary image content, and communicateswith the supply source; a signal processor which processes and outputsthe primary image content; and a controller which controls thecommunicator to request the supply source to supply related imagecontent of the primary image content and controls the signal processorto process and play the related image content supplied from the supplysource in response to the request if a user selects a key to play therelated image content while the primary image content received throughthe receiver is processed by the signal processor.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention can also beachieved by providing a method of controlling an image processingapparatus, including: receiving primary image content from at least onesupply source which supplies image content; processing the receivedprimary image content; determining whether a user selects to playrelated image content of the primary image content while the receivedprimary image content is processed; requesting the supply source tosupply the related image content if the user selects a key to play therelated image content; and processing and playing the related imagecontent supplied from the supply source in response to the request.

The request to supply the related image content may include requestingthe supply source to supply the related image content relating to atleast one of a title, contents and a genre of the primary image content,based on additional information included in the primary image content.

The request to supply the related image content may comprise requestingat least one supply source of plural supply sources which supplies theprimary image content, to supply the related image content.

The request to supply the related image content may comprise: requestinga list of the related image content to the supply source, generating aUI based on the list of the related image content supplied from thesupply source, and requesting the related image content selected throughthe UI from the supply source.

The method may further include storing the processed primary imagecontent if the related image content are played.

The method may further include processing and displaying the storedprimary image content if the play of the related image content isfinished.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent and more readily appreciated from the following description ofthe exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of an image processing apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates communication between the image processing apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and asupply source supplying primary image content;

FIG. 3 illustrates a UI which shows a list of related image contentaccording to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts which illustrate a control method of theimage processing apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to accompanying drawings, wherein like numeralsrefer to like elements and repetitive descriptions will be avoided asnecessary. The present invention, however, may be realized as varioustypes, and is not limited to the exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of an image processing apparatus 100according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As showntherein, the image processing apparatus 100 includes a receiver 101, acommunicator 103, a signal processor 105, a display unit 107, a userinput unit 111, a UI generator 109, a storage unit 113 and a controller115.

The receiver 101 receives primary image content, and may include atuning unit (not shown) to receive the primary image content.

The tuning unit may include a single tuner or a plurality of tuners, ademodulator, a decoder, a multiplexer, etc. The tuner tunes abroadcasting signal having a frequency band corresponding to a tuningcontrol signal of the controller 115 (to be described later). Thebroadcasting signal of the tuned channel is supplied as a transportstream which is packeted by time-division multiplexing a video signal,an audio signal and various data.

For example, if a digital broadcasting signal is received, thedemodulator performs vestigial side band (VSB) demodulation and correctserrors with respect to the received broadcast signal, and outputs thetransport stream. The tuner includes an analog tuner and a digital tunerto receive both an analog broadcasting signal and a digital broadcastingsignal.

The communicator 103 communicates with at least one supply source torequest related image content of the primary image content, and receivesthe related image content from the supply source according to control ofthe controller 115. The communicator 103 according to the presentexemplary embodiment may communicate with the supply source connectedthrough a wired/wireless LAN, modem, etc.

The supply source supplies the primary image content, and may includebroadcasting stations (e.g. terrestrial broadcasting stations such asSBS, KBS and MBC, regional broadcasting stations and cable broadcastingstations), and a server storing the primary image content.

As shown in FIG. 2, the communicator 103 according to the presentexemplary embodiment communicates with respective broadcasting stations150, 160 and 170, each of which comprises a server which stores theprimary image content therein, and receives the related image contentstored in the server of the broadcasting stations 150, 160 and 170. Thereceiver 101 receives the primary image content supplied by therespective broadcasting stations 150, 160 and 170 in real-time through aradio frequency (RF) signal. The receiver 101 and the communicator 103may be provided as an integrated chip (IC).

The signal processor 105 processes the primary image content supplied bythe communicator 103, and converts the primary image content into aformat displayable as an image on the display unit 107, e.g. into adigital RGB signal, and outputs the signal to the display unit 107 underthe control of the controller 115.

The signal processor 105 may provide various functions corresponding tothe format of the inputted image signal. For example, the signalprocessor 105 may provide functions such as an analog to digital (A/D)conversion function to convert various types of inputted analog imagesignals into digital signal in a particular format; a digital decodingfunction; a scaling function to scale a vertical frequency, resolution,or a picture ratio of an inputted digital image signal and/or analogimage signal according to an output protocol of the display unit 107,and a predetermined formation conversion function.

The display unit 107 displays the primary image content processed by thesignal processor 105. The display unit 107 may comprise digital lightprocessing (DLP) technology, a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a plasmadisplay panel (PDP). Alternatively, the display unit 107 may be providedas an external unit.

The UI generator 109 generates a user interface (UI) of a listillustrating at least one related image content supplied from the supplysource under the control of the controller 115. The UI generator 109 mayinclude an on screen display (OSD) generator or may be included in thesignal processor 105 processing the primary image content. The generatedUI is outputted and displayed on a part of the display unit 107.

The user input unit 111 includes a key to select a command to play therelated image content of the primary image content currently displayed.The user input unit 111 may include a remote controller or a menu keyprovided on a casing, and a key signal generator to generate a keysignal corresponding to key manipulation. The related image content mayinclude titles, content, genres, etc. of the primary image content,which will be described in more detail later.

Particularly, the user input unit 111 according to the present exemplaryembodiment may include a hot key to select a command to play the relatedimage content while the received primary image content are displayed.The user input unit 111 may further include a number key and a directionkey to select a channel, a function key to select a function provided inthe image processing apparatus 100, etc.

The storage unit 113 stores the primary image content processed by thesignal processor 105 if the key to play he related image content isselected through the user input unit 111 and the related image contentsupplied from the supply source are played. The storage unit 113 maycomprise at least one of a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aflash memory, etc.

If the key used to input the command to play the related image contentis selected through the user input unit 111 while the received primaryimage content is being processed, the controller 115 controls the signalprocessor 105 to process the related image content supplied from thesupply source. The controller 115 may comprise a CPU, a microcomputer,etc.

More particularly, if the primary image content is received through thereceiver 101, the controller 115 controls the signal processor 105 toprocess the received primary image content and display it on the displayunit 107. If a channel is selected through the user input unit 111, thecontroller 115 tunes to the selected channel to receive the primaryimage content, and processes and displays the received image content.

The controller 115 determines whether the key to play the related imagecontent is selected through the user input unit 111 while the primaryimage content is processed by the signal processor 105.

The related image content may include image content such as titles,contents, genres, etc. of the currently-processed image content.Preferably but not necessarily, the related image content may includeimage content broadcast before the currently-viewed image content. Forexample, if the currently-viewed drama is the fifth episode, the relatedimage content may comprise the fourth, third, second and first episodes.

If the key to play the related image content is selected through theuser input unit 111, the controller 115 checks additional informationincluded in the primary image content. The additional information mayinclude a broadcasting station transmitting the image content, thetitle, contents, playing time, file size of the image content, etc.

The controller 115 requests the broadcasting station transmitting theprimary image content, i.e. the supply source through the communicator103 to supply the related image content, based on the checked additionalinformation. If the supply source transmits the related image content inresponse to the request, the controller 115 controls the signalprocessor 105 to process the transmitted related image content to beplayed.

The controller 115 generates a query to request the list of the relatedimage content to the supply source transmitting the image content, byusing the additional information. If the supply source transmits thelist of the related image content in response to the query, thecontroller 115 controls the UI generator 109 to generate a UI of thelist.

For example, the related image content may include the previouslybroadcast image content. In this case, if a user is currently viewingthe 17th episode of a drama, a UI A may be generated as shown in FIG. 3.The user may select one of the related image content on the listdisplayed in the UI A through the direction key provided in the userinput unit 111.

If one of the related image content in the UI A is selected through theuser input unit 111, the controller 115 controls the communicator 103 torequest the supply source to transmit the selected related imagecontent. If the supply source supplies the selected related imagecontent, the controller 115 controls the signal processor 105 to playthe supplied related image content.

If the signal processor 105 processes the related image content, thecontroller 115 controls the storage unit 113 to store the primary imagecontent received by the receiver 101 and processed by the signalprocessor 105.

Moreover, the controller 115 controls the signal processor 105 toprocess and display the primary image content stored in the storage unit113 or controls the UI generator 109 to generate a UI of a listillustrating the stored primary image content if the processing of therelated image content is finished.

Thus, a user may select and view the related image content of thecurrently-viewed primary image content through simple key manipulation.If the related image content of the displayed primary image content isselected, the currently-viewed image content is additionally stored sothat a user may view the stored primary image content after viewing therelated image content.

A control method of the image processing apparatus 100 according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention is hereinafter describedwith reference to FIG. 4.

As shown therein, if the primary image content is received (operationS1), the controller 115 controls the signal processor 105 to process anddisplay the received primary image content (operation S3).

The controller 115 determines whether a user selects the key to play therelated image content of the displayed primary image content (operationS5).

If it is determined at operation S5 that the key to play the relatedimage content is selected, the controller 115 requests the supply sourcesupplying the primary image content to transmit the related imagecontent (operation S7).

If the supply source supplies the related image content, the controller115 controls the signal processor 105 to process and play the relatedimage content (operation S9).

The control method of the image processing apparatus 100 according tothe exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described inmore detail with reference to FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, if the primary image content are received (operationS11), the controller 115 controls the signal processor 105 to processand display the received primary image content (operation S13).

The controller 115 determines whether a user selects the key to play therelated image content of the primary image content (operation S15). Ifthe key to play the related image content is selected, the controller115 requests the supply source to transmit a list of the related imagecontent (operation S17).

The controller 115 checks the additional information included in theprimary image content, generates and transmits a query requesting thelist of the related image content to the supply source supplying theprimary image content, by using the additional information of the imagecontent.

The controller 115 controls the UI generator 109 to generate the UI ofthe list illustrating the related image content supplied from the supplysource (operation S19).

If the related image content selected from the UI through the user inputunit 111 is to be played (operation S21), the controller 115 requeststhe supply source to supply the selected related image content(operation S23).

If the supply source supplies the related image content, the controller115 controls the signal processor 105 to process and play the suppliedrelated image content (operation S25).

If the related image content is played, the controller 115 controls thestorage unit 113 to store the primary image content received by thereceiver 101 and processed by the signal processor 105 therein(operation S27).

As described above, the controller 115 may control the signal processor105 to resume playing the stored primary image content or control the UIgenerator to generate the UI of the list illustrating the stored primaryimage content if the playing of the related image content is finished.

Thus, a user may select and view the previously-broadcasted relatedimage content of the currently-viewed primary image content throughsimple key manipulations. As the image processing apparatus 100 requeststhe related image content, a user does not need to search the relatedimage content one at a time.

Additionally, if the related image content of the displayed primaryimage content is selected, the currently-displayed primary image contentis additionally stored. Thus, a user may consecutively view the primaryimage content after viewing the related image content.

As described above, the exemplary embodiment of the present inventionprovides an image processing apparatus which may be easily manipulatedto select and view related image content of currently-viewed primaryimage content, and a control method thereof.

Additionally, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention providesan image processing apparatus and a control method thereof whichautomatically requests, receives and displays related image contentselected by a user, and improves user's convenience as a user does notneed to search the related image content one at a time.

Further, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides animage processing apparatus which additionally stores acurrently-displayed primary image content if related image content ofthe displayed primary image content are selected so that a user mayconsecutively view the primary image content after viewing the relatedimage content, and a control method thereof.

Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope ofwhich is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A display apparatus, comprising: a receiver to receives a first videocontent; a communicating unit to communicates with at least one contentsupply source; a display unit to display video contents; a storage; anda controller configured to control the communicating unit to request theat least one content supply source to supply a second video content, andcontrols the display unit to display the supplied second video contentwhile the first video content is stored in the storage, wherein thefirst video content is associated with the second video content.
 2. Thedisplay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller requeststhe at least one content supply source to transmit the second videocontent relating to at least one of a title, content and a genre of thefirst video content, based on additional information included in thefirst video content.
 3. The display apparatus according to claim 2,further comprising a user input unit which is provided to select a keyto display the second video content, wherein the controller requests theat least one content supply source to transmit the second video contentif the key to display the second video content is selected through theuser input unit.
 4. The display apparatus according to claim 3, furthercomprising a user interface (UI) generator, wherein the controllerrequests the at least one content supply source to transmit a list ofthe second video content, controls the UI generator to generate a UIbased on the list of the second video content supplied from the contentsupply source, and requests the at least one content supply source totransmit the second video content selected through the user input unitif the key to display the second video content is selected through theuser input unit.
 5. (canceled)
 6. A display apparatus, comprising: acommunicating unit to receives a first video content from at least onecontent supply source which supplies the first video content, andcommunicates with the content supply source; a display unit to displaythe first video content; a storage; and a controller configured tocontrol the communicating unit to request the at least one contentsupply source to supply a second video content of the first videocontent and control the display unit to display the second video contentsupplied from the at least one content supply source while the firstvideo content is stored in the storage, and wherein the first videocontent is associated with the second video content.
 7. A method ofcontrolling a display apparatus, comprising: receiving a first videocontent; displaying the received first video content; requesting atleast one content supply source to supply a second video content; anddisplaying the second video content supplied from the at least onecontent supply source in response to the request while the first videocontent is stored in a storage, wherein the first video content isassociated with the second video content.
 8. The method according toclaim 7, wherein the requesting the at least one content supply sourceto supply the second video content comprises requesting the at least onecontent supply source to supply the second video content relating to atleast one of a title, content and a genre of the first video content,based on additional information included in the first video content. 9.The method according to claim 8, wherein the requesting the at least onecontent supply source to supply the second video content comprisesrequesting the at least one content supply source which supplies thefirst video content among the at least one content supply source, tosupply the second video content.
 10. The method according to claim 9,wherein the requesting the at least one content supply source to supplythe second video content comprises: requesting a list of the secondvideo content to the at least one content supply source, generating auser interface (UI) based on the list of the second video contentsupplied from the at least one content supply source, selecting at leastone of the second video content through the UI, and requesting thesecond video content selected through the UI from the at least onecontent supply source.
 11. The method according to claim 8, furthercomprising processing and displaying the first video content if thedisplaying of the second video content is finished.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 7, further comprising processing and displaying thefirst video content if the displaying of the second video content isfinished.
 13. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thefirst video content is an episode in a video series and the second videocontent is one of a previous or subsequent episode of the first videocontent.
 14. The display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein thefirst video content is an episode in a video series and the second videocontent is one of a previous or subsequent episode of the first videocontent.
 15. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first videocontent is an episode in a video series and the second video content isone of a previous or subsequent episode of the first video content.